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UPDATE: Coach Mike Singletary stood by his quarterback Alex Smith in his year-end news conference, saying Smith is the starter. Singletary said that’s subject to upgrading the position, but that’s unlikely to happen. Singletary said he still has to evaluate his players and his coaches, including offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. While Raye most certainly will return, Singletary didn’t answer a question about quarterbacks coach Mike Johnnson possibly being promoted to coordinator.

A sizable crowd of autograph hounds and fans collected outside the 49ers facility on Monday, which may be an indication of how the 49ers are rising in the estimation of Bay Area fandom. Inside the locker room, players filled trash cans with old DVD’s of past games and discarded a season’s worth of mail.

All the players looked puffy-eyed and tired from a distinctly bittersweet season where the team improved to 8-8 for the first time in seven seasons, but missed the playoffs once again. Linebacker Patrick Willis said he won’t be paying much attention to the playoffs.

“Last night I saw the brackets and I was saying to myself, ‘wow.’ If we were in that bracket right now, we would give any team a run for their money,” he said. “But unfortunately, we’re not. That’s just the way it is, I don’t know if I’ll watch it that much. I really don’t care that much.”

The 49er beat Arizona twice, should have defeated Minnesota, but were handled easily by Philadelphia and Green Bay. Here were some other noteworthy notes and quotes from the final session with players.

-Delanie Walker will have his ankle scoped. Walker, who never really let on, battled ankle and foot injuries all year. Walker said he wants to make a Vernon Davis type step next year.

-Chilo Rachal said he was inspired and upset by the criticism of his play when he struggled early in the season. “A lot people were taking shots at me at the beginning of the season,” Rachal said. “And they were saying I was the bad guy, and I’m getting mishandled and this and that. But my play is speaking for itself and you guys can clearly see that, and it’s just going to get better for next season. This is just the beginning, this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Rachal did settle down after whiffing in pass protection and prompting coaches to rotate him with Adam Snyder. Vernon Davis believes Rachal could has pro bowl potential and could make a huge stride over the off-season.

-Willis made appealed to the higher-ups to keep nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, who will become a free agent this year. “Oh man, I pray to God they keep Aubrayo the coaches already know where my heart is. I say he’s the best nose in the game. You turn on the film and nobody plays with better technique, nobody knows the game better than he knows it. He keeps my head from getting busted on every play and I’m thankful for that.”

-Several players are planning European adventures including Alex Smith, Shaun Hill and Takeo Spikes. Hill also plans to add a cross-country trek in a RV with his girlfriend and their canine boxers.

-With the annual change at offensive coordinator, Alex Smith said he never got the chance to work on his fundamentals. He said he’ll devote a good portion of the off-season on his footwork and his fundamentals within the pocket. He also looks upon this offseason as an opportunity to expand the offense to possibly incorporate some of the things he does best, including working outside the pocket.

-Wide receiver Josh Morgan volunteered his support for his quarterback. “With the blitzes right in his face and with the protection right in his face, I think with everything he’s been through, he’s done an excellent job.”